Yulian Semyonov (1931–1993)

I found this a pretty routine, unexceptional procedural. About the only novel thing in it was the fact that it was one of the first Soviet-era detective stories/thrillers to reach circulation in the west -- as the cover notes! The plot itself is pretty routine: a policeman is killed (his gun taken), and a gang that uses the gun in subsequent robberies is tracked. Some social moralizing in the book, though it also includes references to purges, interestingly enough. Not particularly show more recommended, other than perhaps a curio. show less

Въпреки, че известният съветски сериал е озаглавен 17 мига от пролетта, книгата с това име всъщност не е самостоятелна, а е осма част от поредицата за съветския таен агент Щирлиц. Налага се да кажа, че ме остави разочарован, тъй като се състои основно от няколкостранични show more монолози на героите, в които те говорят на някакви философско-идеологически теми, естествено свързани с хитлеризма, комунизма и съветската власт. Въпреки че трябва да е шпионска книга, екшън почти липсва. show less

Maybe it's better in the original Russian or a different English translation, but this version [Fredonia Books] is simply terrible.

Talk talk talk. Advance saved Calder's bacon in 1987. CM arranged tour...Semyonov spoke no English, was cooperative though. Details in Calder's "The Garden of Eros" unpub memoir.